40-Year-Old Virgin, The (HD DVD)

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This is not an exact port of the standard definition DVD release. First and foremost, Universal´s U-Control makes an appearance on the release. Picture-in-Picture is the only supported features of this U-Control incarnation and features a nice number of pop-up windows with behind-the-scenes footage and interviews. When the feature is activated from the remote, the main window shrinks and a little window appears on either side of the bottom. I still wish there was an option to turn U-Control on and have it automatically pop-up the windows, as you must keep full focus on the film to catch them all. This isn´t Pokemon. It is a movie and I don´t want to fumble with a remote for a two hour and twelve minute film. Still, the pop-ups are entertaining and contains a few rather nice supplements. I thought the discussion of the dog sex scene was a funny bit.

Aside from the U-Control, most of the supplements from the standard definition release have been ported over to the HD-30 release. A healthy twenty four Deleted Scenes (38:01) are contained on the disc. Many of them feature Commentary by Director / Co-Writer Judd Apatow and Actor / Co-Producer Seth Rogen. They may be played separately from three menu screens, or by selecting the "Play All" menu choice. This is simply a massive collection of deleted scenes and many of them are incredibly funny and would have been nice scenes in the film, but it was already 133 minutes long. Unfortunately, they are presented in 4:3 framed widescreen. A few feature that was not part of the former release is the Knocked Up Trailer (3:06) for the upcoming Universal comedy. This is a ´Red´ card trailer, complete with language and sexual references that are not found on the typical ´Green´ card PG trailers.

You Know How I Know You Are Gay (5:31) has an optional commentary with the same participants as the deleted scenes. This is an alternate version of a scene contained in the film. It is much longer and far funnier than the "I Know You Are Gay" scene contained in the film. Date-A-Palooza (9:18) is additional footage from the Data-a-Palooza scene and amps up the language and humor. This was downright crude and downright funny. Line-O-Rama (6:19) is more alternate takes of footage from the film, where crudeness is again pumped up. Funny stuff. Judd´s Video Diaries (20:44) is a collection of twelve days worth of video diaries from the director that begins on a Pre-Shoot Day and ends on Day 52. These may be played individually or collectively. This was a nice collection of behind-the-scenes footage that shows the humor of the film´s director. It isn´t meant to be taken seriously.

Auditions (7:33) is another collection of vignettes. This time they are focused on seven supporting actors´ auditions and may again be lumped together with a "Play All" option. Raw Footage (19:22) is a collection of outtakes, goofs, alternate takes and other scenes lumped together that was not contained in any of the previous collections. These were funny, but the sheer amount of footage not used in the film is beginning to get tedious. Rehearsals (5:12) is a collection of rehearsal scenes where the actors curse and work their way through the scenes in front of a whiteboard and in street clothes. The crudeness meter soars. More funny stuff.

The menu then scrolls to reveal a full screen of more features. First up is the Reel Comedy Roundtable (21:06). This finds the film´s director, producer and stars sitting around a table and discussing the film and their experiences. This was interesting, but the pure amount of supplements are beginning to become mind numbing. Another television feature is the Cinemax Final Cut: The 40 Year Old Virgin (12:43). This is one of those little promotional bumpers you see on Cinemax between films. It is a decent EPK feature. A 1970´s Sex-Ed Film (5:26) must have been thrown in because the filmmakers didn´t feel they had enough bonus materials, or they wanted to see how hard it is to fill up one of these amazing HD-30 discs. My Dinner With Stormy (2:08) is the shortest supplement on the disc and looks at Seth Rogan sitting down with the incredibly sexy porn star Stormy. This could have been longer. The Gag Reel (4:35) has me hoping for an end to this amazing amount of extras. If the previous outtakes and alternate versions weren´t enough; these are additional humorous bits. Waxing Doc (3:31) is behinds the scenes footage showing what Carell went through for the waxing scene. Scary.

Finally, there is only one more menu selection. Of course, the producers of the HD-DVD decided to leave the Unrated Feature Commentary with Director / Co-Writer Judd Apatow, Actor / Co-Writer Steve Carell and Cast at the very end of the incredibly long list of bonus materials. This wasn´t listed on the packaging and completely surprised me. Corell and everybody else of this motley crew that features many members of the cast is extremely entertaining and this is a great commentary that earns its ´Unrated´ billing, but never fails to entertain. I had intended to only spot review the commentary track, but found myself listening to the entire film. I am simply in awe at the supplements on this single HD-DVD disc. It took an entire evening to watch the film and sit through the supplements. This commentary was just icing on the cake.

Closing Thoughts:
"The 40 Year Old Virgin" is a damn funny film. It is filled with sex jokes, harsh language and bare breasts. However, the finished film is nowhere near as crude and humorous as the supplements, which is really saying something. I fully enjoyed this film and felt that "The 40 Year Old Virgin" is one of the better comedies of the sex-comedy genre that has come around in many years. The video presentation and sound of the HD-DVD are both very good, but the true star of the HD-30 HD-DVD disc is the mind shattering wealth of supplements that makes this cardboard slip-covered release one of the most impressive HD-DVD titles yet to hit store shelves. I honestly cannot figure out how all of this fits onto one little disc. This is a funny film, but I honestly felt the bonus materials were just as entertaining as the feature presentation. I hope this crew sticks together and throws out another film in the feature. Maybe Carell, Apatow and company will do what Adam Sandler has done for years in keeping with the same crew. This is just a very good disc.

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